Ariegeois is a talented scenthound, and affectionate and serene in the home. Ariegeois is a breed of dog from the département of Ariège in the Midi-Pyrenées region of southern France. It is a medium-sized pack-hunting scenthound deriving from crossing of Grand Bleu de Gascogne and Grand Gascon Saintongeois hounds with local Briquet dogs.
Being calm and collected is what makes the Ariegeois dog breed an outstanding hunter. Though their energy level can seem low, they need to be coxed into exercise or hunting and once they are, they fulfill their duties quite nicely. Being a quiet dog has its perks, they do not often bark unless they feel antsy or threatened and mind their own business will walking around the home. Due to their hunting instinct, its best to keep them away from smaller animals unless they were brought up with them. Although they may seem lazy, they need to keep up with exercising or else their laziness will progress them into gaining too much weight.
The Ariegeois normally weighs approximately 28–30 kg. Males should stand 52–58 cm tall, and females 50–56 cm. The coat is smooth and short, white with clearly defined black markings; it is sometimes mottled, and there may be tan points at the head. The head of the dog is lean and elongated. There are no wrinkles. The eyes are dark and gentle. The ears are very soft and medium-length. The muzzle is of medium length, and the nose is black. The neck is slender and arched slightly, to the chest which is narrow and deep. The ribs are well-sprung with a strong, sloping back. It should have straight forelegs and strong, powerful hindlegs. The feet are hard and foxlike. The tail is slightly curved.
The Ariegeois is a friendly and talented scenthound
Ariegeois is used both as a courser and for driving game to waiting guns. While most successful with hares, the Ariegeois is also used for hunting deer and boar. The Ariegeois dog breed is distinguished by its friendly nature with other hounds and affection for human companions.
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